County's per capita personal income down for 2009

Published: Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 9:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 10:00 p.m.

Etowah County's per capita personal income was down in 2009, but not as much as the state and national averages, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The county's per capita personal income, which is income based on all sources divided by population, was down 0.6 percent in 2009 to $29,984.

That drop was less than the state's decline of 1.5 percent from 2008 to 2009 and also less than the decline nationally. Across the U.S., per capita personal income fell 1.7 percent in 2009 after growing 4.0 percent in 2008, BEA said.

Alabama's per capita personal income in 2009 was $33,411 and the national average in 2009 was $39,635.

Personal income is a comprehensive measure of the income of all persons from all sources. In addition to wages and salaries, it includes employer-provided health insurance, dividends and interest income, Social Security benefits and other types of income.

Over the last 10 years, Etowah County's per capita personal income increased 3.8 percent. The state had growth of 4.5 percent during that period, and the national average was a 4.4 percent increase.

Etowah County's per capita personal income in 2009 ranked 24th in the state and is 90 percent of the state average and 76 percent of the national average, according to BEA.

Carolyn Trend, a socioeconomic analyst with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said Etowah County's smaller decline in per capita personal income compared to the state average in part could be linked to an increase in average monthly earnings during that period. The Census Bureau's Local Employment Dynamics data series showed the average monthly earnings for jobs in Etowah County rose at a higher rate than the state increase.

Trend said per capita income also reflects population changes and according to Census Bureau estimates, Etowah County grew at a lower rate than the rest of the state.

According to the BEA, Etowah County in 2009 saw declines in income in a number of sectors, including farm earnings, manufacturing, construction and retail and wholesale trade.

Increases were reported in nondurable good manufacturing, heath care and social assistance, local government, educational services, professional, scientific and technical services and telecommunications.

Marshall County was one of 18 counties in the state that saw an increase in per capital personal income in 2009, with a 0.2 percent rise. Other counties in Northeast Alabama saw their income levels drop in 2009, including Blount County at 2.6 percent and DeKalb County at 1.9 percent.

Trent said both the state and counties adjoining Etowah experienced job losses as the recession worsened from 2008 to 2009.

Shelby County had the highest per capita personal income in Alabama for 2009 at $42,118, followed by Jefferson County at $41,745.

The counties with the lowest per capita personal income were Bullock at $21,971 and Wilcox at $22,509, although each showed increases in 2009.

<p>Etowah County's per capita personal income was down in 2009, but not as much as the state and national averages, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.</p><p>The county's per capita personal income, which is income based on all sources divided by population, was down 0.6 percent in 2009 to $29,984.</p><p>That drop was less than the state's decline of 1.5 percent from 2008 to 2009 and also less than the decline nationally. Across the U.S., per capita personal income fell 1.7 percent in 2009 after growing 4.0 percent in 2008, BEA said.</p><p>Alabama's per capita personal income in 2009 was $33,411 and the national average in 2009 was $39,635.</p><p>Personal income is a comprehensive measure of the income of all persons from all sources. In addition to wages and salaries, it includes employer-provided health insurance, dividends and interest income, Social Security benefits and other types of income.</p><p>Over the last 10 years, Etowah County's per capita personal income increased 3.8 percent. The state had growth of 4.5 percent during that period, and the national average was a 4.4 percent increase.</p><p>Etowah County's per capita personal income in 2009 ranked 24th in the state and is 90 percent of the state average and 76 percent of the national average, according to BEA.</p><p>Carolyn Trend, a socioeconomic analyst with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said Etowah County's smaller decline in per capita personal income compared to the state average in part could be linked to an increase in average monthly earnings during that period. The Census Bureau's Local Employment Dynamics data series showed the average monthly earnings for jobs in Etowah County rose at a higher rate than the state increase.</p><p>Trend said per capita income also reflects population changes and according to Census Bureau estimates, Etowah County grew at a lower rate than the rest of the state.</p><p>According to the BEA, Etowah County in 2009 saw declines in income in a number of sectors, including farm earnings, manufacturing, construction and retail and wholesale trade. </p><p>Increases were reported in nondurable good manufacturing, heath care and social assistance, local government, educational services, professional, scientific and technical services and telecommunications.</p><p>Marshall County was one of 18 counties in the state that saw an increase in per capital personal income in 2009, with a 0.2 percent rise. Other counties in Northeast Alabama saw their income levels drop in 2009, including Blount County at 2.6 percent and DeKalb County at 1.9 percent.</p><p>Trent said both the state and counties adjoining Etowah experienced job losses as the recession worsened from 2008 to 2009. </p><p>Shelby County had the highest per capita personal income in Alabama for 2009 at $42,118, followed by Jefferson County at $41,745.</p><p>The counties with the lowest per capita personal income were Bullock at $21,971 and Wilcox at $22,509, although each showed increases in 2009.</p>